Cody Rhodes has had a pretty remarkable first year back in WWE, even if he did spend a large chunk of it recovering from a pectoral tear. If anything, that absence makes it even more impressive that he's about to headline WrestleMania exactly one year after his triumphant return. Rhodes recently spoke about the real competition there is backstage when it comes to the want to main event WrestleMania, even detailing the one time he has almost come to blows with someone backstage since his WWE return.
A Backstage Fist Fight
Rhodes has spent the majority of his in-ring time back in WWE battling Seth Rollins, beating him on three different occasions before he needed time off to recover from an injury. Turns out the dislike Rhodes and Rollins demonstrated for one another in the ring extends beyond the ropes as The American Nightmare revealed the rivals legitimately can't stand one another.
“Him and I absolutely can’t stand one another, I’d probably try and rip his eyes out,” Rhodes admitted on the Dan LeBatard Show (H/T to PWMania). Rhodes isn't kidding either, adding that the two of them almost got into a fight in front of the locker room backstage.
It Didn't Happen
“Seth Rollins is the closest I’ve ever had to backstage turning into a fist fight in front of all of our peers and upper management. It didn’t happen.” Rhodes didn't reveal when exactly he and Rollins almost got into it in front of everyone, nor did he elaborate on why exactly the clash didn't happen. Whether the two of them thought better of it just in time, or if onlookers needed to interject to prevent their confrontation from getting physical.
Rhodes and Rollins having a real dislike for one another may explain why their trilogy of matches in 2022 was so good. Their third and final clash inside Hell in a Cell was labeled match of the year across the wrestling industry by quite a lot of fans and wrestlers alike. If Rhodes can win the title from Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, the reignition of his rivalry with Rollins might be the perfect first step to take as champion.